SINGAPORE EXAMINATIONS AND ASSESSMENT BOARD

3 Geylang Bahru Lane, Singapore 339626

http://www.seab.gov.sg

GUIDELINES ON THE USE OF ELECTRONIC CALCULATORS IN NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS

1. The calculators used in the national examinations should have the following minimum features:
(a) four arithmetic operations (+, −, ×, ÷) including the order of operations and use of brackets;
(b) fractional function which retains the fraction in the form ‘a/b’ and ‘a b/c’;
(c) square root ( ) and cube root ( 3 ) functions; and
(d) value of Pi (π).

2. The following guidelines are to be adhered to in the use of calculators in national examinations.
(a) The calculator must be silent, with a visual display only.
(b) The working condition of the calculator (including the power supply) is the responsibility of
the candidates and any fault in the calculator will not be considered as justification for
special consideration.
(c) Candidates are not allowed to share calculators during the examination.
(d) No calculators with an external storage function which can allow users to input and store
data via external storage media, e.g. cards, tapes, and plug-in modules, are allowed.
(e) No calculators with wireless communication capability with other machines, e.g. infra-red
communication capability, are allowed.
(f) Any enclosed instruction leaflets containing any mathematical formula, conversion table or
instructions are strictly prohibited, and must not be taken into the examination venue. Any
such information on the calculator that cannot be removed must be securely covered.
(g) The original model number and brand must be indicated clearly on the calculator for
verification purposes.
(h) No calculators with capabilities for storing and displaying verbal information are allowed.

Additional guidelines for scientific calculators

(i) No programmable calculators are allowed.
(j) No calculators with permanent features of a programmed kind are allowed,
e.g. calculators capable of numerical integration and/or numerical differentiation.

3. Graphing calculators are allowed for use ONLY in subjects examined at H1, H2 and H3 Levels
of the GCE A-Level Curriculum. Candidates are to note the following:
(a) It is the candidates’ responsibility to clear any information and/or programs stored in the
graphing calculators before the examination.
(b) No prepared programs may be taken into the examination room. Information (including text
or formulae) and/or programs stored in the calculator's memory must be cleared before the
examination.
(c) No calculators with built-in symbolic algebra manipulations, symbolic differentiation or
integration are allowed.

4. The use of any calculator with unacceptable features or for retrieval of information/programs
during the examinations is an infringement of the regulations.

5. Candidates are only allowed to use approved calculator models. A list of approved models
recommended for use could be found in Annex A.

The Singapore Public Service: Integrity, Service, Excellence

 ANNEX A
LIST OF APPROVED SCIENTIFIC CALCULATORS

The following scientific calculator models are suitable for:

• PSLE Mathematics and Foundation Mathematics Examinations
• GCE N(T), N(A), O and A-Level Examinations

S/N Calculator Brand Calculator Model Approved Period 1

1 FX 82MS 2003 – 2021
2 CASIO FX 85MS 2003 – 2021
3 FX 95MS 2003 – 2021
4 FX 96SG Plus 2013 – 2021
5 FX 97SG X 2018 – 2022
6 FX 350MS 2003 – 2021
7 CANON F-960SG 2017 – 2021
8 SHARP EL 509X 2015 – 2019
9 EL W531S 2010 – 2023
10 EL W531S II 2018 – 2022
11 EL W531XM 2014 – 2023
12 EL 533X 2013 – 2020

LIST OF APPROVED GRAPHING CALCULATORS

The following graphing calculator models are approved for use ONLY in subjects examined at H1, H2 and
H3 Levels of the A-Level curriculum.
Note: All graphing calculators must be reset prior to any examination.

S/N Calculator Brand Calculator Model Operating Approved Period1

System
1 CASIO FX-9860GIIs OS 2.04 2014 – 2022
OS 2.09
2 TI-84 Plus OS 2.43 2006 – 2020
3 TEXAS TI-84 Plus Silver Edition OS 2.53MP 2006 – 2020
INSTRUMENTS OS 2.55MP
4 TI-84 Plus Pocket SE 2012 – 2021
5 TI-84 Plus C Silver OS 4.0 2015 – 2023
Edition OS 4.2
6 TI-84 Plus CE OS 5.0.1 2017 – 2020
OS 5.1.5
OS 5.2.0
OS 5.2.2
OS 5.3.0
OS 5.3.1

1
Please be informed that if there is no application for extension of the approved period for the calculator model,
it will be removed from the list of approved calculators upon expiry. The onus is on the vendors to submit and
apply for extension of the approved period if they wish to.
Updated 31st October 2018